Fishing Report From The TWRA

  • Thursday, August 15, 2013

Here is the latest fishing report from the TWRA:

Caney Fork:   Fishing is good. Several brooks and rainbows are being caught while fly fishing near the dam.  Nice browns are also being caught on jerkbaits and shad near Happy Hollow.

Center Hill:  Fishing is fair.  Water temperature is 82 degrees; lake is falling.  Bass fishing is fair early in the morning and late in the afternoon on topwater baits, while fish are chasing shad.  Walleye fishing is fair while trolling nightcrawlers and jigging spoons in 26 feet of water. 

Chickamauga:  The lake elevation on 8/11/13 was 682.5.  This elevation is summer normal. Some areas have grass and other areas have been slower to see the grass top out probably due to the rain, higher water levels, and murky conditions.  84 degrees was the surface water temperature on 8/11/13.  Some bass have been caught along the grass beds close to the large water flats.  Most bass are being caught deep in the areas that are typically associated with summer patterns.  Main lake humps, points and drops dominate the areas that most anglers seek in the summer.  Spoons, jigs, swimbaits, and plastic worms were used most often in previous days.  Bluegill can be caught near rock walls and along humps in the big water.  Jigs, worms and crickets have been used to catch a lot of bluegill.  Stripers have been caught near the tailwaters and in areas where cool water can be found.  Shad is the optimal choice for striper bait.  The number of striped bass caught recently has been high.  Catfish drifters have caught many catfish with large catfish being in the mix.  Meaty baits from various sources have been used by most anglers.  Bluegill or shad were the best choice for bait for those in search of catfish. Some crappie have been caught around docks, deep cover, and near bluff walls in the river.  Minnows and/or jigs have been used by all crappie anglers.

Dale Hollow:  Fishing is slow. Water temperature is 81 degrees; lake is falling.  A few bass are being caught at night with jigs and soft plastics on grassy points in 20 feet of water.  Walleye fishing is slow with a few fishing being caught while trolling nightcrawlers in 35 feet of water. 

Hiwassee River near the Appalachia Power Plant: The river temperature at the Hwy 411 Bridge on Saturday was 72 degrees.  Locations upstream from that point had readings of 65 degrees.  Guides on the river reported 40 to 50 trout for a 4 hour trip was common for someone with a “good stick.”  One brook trout was caught with a few brown trout caught in recent days.  Big numbers of rainbow trout are being caught.  An occasional crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass have been caught.  Striped bass have been caught on various lures, but most striper anglers have used live bait to catch fish.

Parksville Lake: The lake is stable and at summer level.  The surface water temperature has been in the low 80’s.  Some bass have been caught in recent days.  Plastic worms were being used in areas of the upper lake for largemouth bass.  Crankbaits and small plastic worms have been used in other areas for spotted bass.  White bass were spotted in the jumps in several areas.  One area with plenty of activity was at the bend in the lower river.  The number of anglers visiting the lake has been low.

Watts Bar: The lake elevation on 8/11/13 was at high summer normal.  The observed elevation on that day was 741.0 feet.  The lake temperature was 83 degrees.  The current flow on average has been better later in the day.  Drifters are catching catfish on various baits from different sources.  Bluegill or shad have been irresistible for most catfish and a few heavyweights have been caught.  Bluegill have been caught near bluff walls on the main lake or around docks by those using worms or crickets as enticers.  A few crappie anglers have caught crappie in deep brushpiles and along large water breaks.  Some dock pitchers have caught crappie around selected docks.  Minnows and jigs offer opportunities for different circumstances.  A few crappie anglers are fishing around lights at night.  Bass anglers have caught several fish this past week while fishing the summer patterns that include the current holes, breaks, humps and points located mostly in the large water areas.  Jigs, plastic worms, spoons and crankbaits have been loaded on most rods.  Striped bass activity has been picking up a little in the Clinch River.  The tailwaters below Ft. Loudon has been good for most of the year.  Many lures will catch a few rockfish.  Maximize your catches with a skipjack or a yellowtail.  

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